One dead, one critical after spate of shooting, stabbings in Lowell

LOWELL -- A fight between a few individuals quickly grew into a melee on Middlesex Street early Sunday morning that left a Dracut man dead from gunshot wounds and another man in critical condition with stab wounds.

That deadly fight was one of several violent incidents around the city Saturday night and Sunday, leaving one dead, another man shot, three men suffering from stab wounds, and at least two homes struck by gunfire.

A witness who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the fight broke out a little before 2 a.m. in front of the Crown nightclub at 74 Middlesex St.

"Several guys were hitting this one guy and then everyone came out and started fighting," the witness said.

That man said he called 911 to report the fight, but he never heard or saw any gunshots fired as the fight moved down Middlesex Street toward the Lord Overpass.

Police soon arrived and found 25-year-old Keny Sien, of Dracut, suffering from gunshot wounds that would later claim his life despite a prolonged effort by EMTs and paramedics.

A MedFlight helicopter landed at Cawley Stadium to fly Sien to a Boston trauma center, but medical crews were unable to stabilize him enough for the flight. Sien was pronounced dead at Lowell General Hospital/Saints Campus about 7:30 a.m.

Sien's family could not be reached Sunday. Several people who knew him declined to comment.

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A woman who lives on Jackson Street said she heard about five gunshots and looked out her window to see a white SUV speeding away.

Police said a man whose identity they are not releasing later showed up at a city emergency room with serious stab wounds. The man told police he was stabbed during the fight on Middlesex Street.

He was listed in critical condition Sunday night at an undisclosed Boston trauma center, according to Stephanie Guyotte, a spokeswoman for Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Vannak Kann, who owns Crown, said his staff had no problems inside the club.

Kann is working with the city to rehabilitate the entire building the club is located in. He said he has been making sure his club follows the letter of the law on license issues, so his bouncers had started clearing people out of Crown by 1:30 a.m., before the fight began.

Crown, at 74 Middlesex St., is one of several new businesses in the area, such as the Joseph Early Garage, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and Garcia Brogan's Pub and Cantina.

About an hour after the shooting on Middlesex Street, someone opened fire with a shotgun on Albion Street near West Fourth Street in Centralville, hitting the second floor of a home on West Fourth Street at least two times about 3:10 a.m.

Police were still processing evidence on Albion Street when officers there heard several more gunshots from the direction of West Sixth Street about 4:10 a.m.

Police responded there and found several more shotgun shells in the middle of West Ninth Street, near Shedd Street. A home on Shedd Street was struck.

A witness who was near the incident on Albion Street told police they saw a silver SUV speeding away from the area at about the same time, and police were searching for a vehicle fitting that description most of Sunday morning.

Police and detectives from Ryan's office are investigating whether the incidents on Middlesex, Albion and West Ninth streets are related, according to Guyotte.

Meanwhile, a man suffered a serious, but non life-threatening stab wound earlier Saturday. He was flown to an undisclosed Boston trauma center after he showed up in the emergency room at Lowell General Hospital Saturday about 6 p.m.

Another man suffered a non life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg in an incident on Ash Street in Lower Belvidere Sunday about 11 a.m. Police say that shooting was not related to the other violence in the city.

Yet another man suffered a stab wound Sunday evening during a domestic incident at 220 Smith St., that led to the arrest of Alexander Matthews, 38, of 220 Smith St., on counts of assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Police say that incident was also unrelated to any other incidents.

Police Superintendent Deborah Friedl said the violence came despite a heavy police presence around the city that even included a state police helicopter patrolling over the city.

The increased police presence was planned in connection with the Southeast Asian Water Festival -- a family event held annually on the banks of the Merrimack River.

Friedl said it has been several years since there were any problems at the water festival.

"It wasn't in anticipation of a problem, but in anticipation of larger crowds than usual at some of the venues," Friedl said.

Friedl said there will be increased patrols around the city to make police visible in an attempt to help allieviate fears among residents. Police say the incident on Middlesex Street does not appear to have to been random.

"I'm glad we had the extra presence out there," Friedl said. "Sadly, it didn't do much to prevent the issues, but we're fortunate that we had the extra officers out there to handle all of these events simultaneously.

Friedl said the police command staff will meet today to discuss the progress of ongoing investigations, and what more steps may be taken to keep the city safe.

She noted a large brawl near Middle and Palmer streets a little after 2 a.m., less than 15 minutes after the shooting on Middlesex Street, left a police officer injured.

Several people were arrested in connection with that incident, which led to no serious injuries but which required a large number of officers to quell.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lowell police at 978-937-3200 or Crimestoppers at 978-459-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent to police via Text-a-Tip, by texting TIP411 (847411) with the subject "LPDTIP."

Tipsters can remain anonymous, but can receive up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

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